Buy the Two and the Proud HERE |
By Heather Long
About fourteen
months ago, I had a conversation with a good friend—you may know her as Rebecca
Royce—she’s a terrific author. For years now, we’ve exchanged books here and
there for critique, shared our aspirations, and encouragement. We even almost
got to meet at RWA in New York nearly two years ago but kept missing each
other. She sent me a note and said, you have to write a 1Night Stand—you would
be great at it.
My initial
reaction was to laugh. I didn’t know anything about the line except for
Rebecca’s stories and it was a bit of tumultuous period in my life, filled with
personal challenges and too many changes. I laughed, but I didn’t forget about
the idea. I read a few more books in the series from authors like Valerie Mann
and Kate Richards. The idea stuck in my head and wouldn’t go away—stories are
like that for me.
Over
Thanksgiving weekend, I wrote Once Her Man, Always Her Man and as some might
say—it was the start of a beautiful relationship. I created Mike’s Place, and
this incredible unit of men, brothers-in-arms, who were dedicated to helping
veterans like themselves.
As hard as it
is for me to believe, tomorrow marks the release of Always a Marine #8, The Two
and the Proud, technically, my ninth Marine (since #10 came out a couple of
weeks ago as a part of the Challenge series).
TTATP features Rowdy and Kim, Marines at different points in their
careers.
Rowdy is still
on active duty but has been offered an early out on his contract. He wouldn’t
mind staying active, but knows he has options on the outside—options some of
the men in his unit don’t share. Kim’s been retired from active duty for a
while and she works for NCIS investigating cold cases. But they are both
looking for something more…that elusive connection.
In so many
ways, this couple is very different from my others. They don’t need
healing—they need direction and focus. And I admit, probably a Gibbs slap here
or there wouldn’t hurt.
The best part
of writing the Always a Marine series is getting to know these fabulous men and
women from all walks of life. I have so many more to share with you, but I
invite you to kick back this weekend and discover The Two, The Proud—my
Marines.
Have any
questions about the series? Feel free to ask and I shall do my best to answer!
The eighth
installment in the Always a Marine anthology in 1Night Stand (1NS) line for
Decadent Publishing. 1Night Stand is the business name of an exclusive online
dating service run by Madame Evangeline who provides her clients with a
possibility of happily ever after or happily for now.
The Two and The Proud
Always a Marine #8
Always a Marine #8
Roger Michael
Easton IV, better known as Rowdy, flouted the family’s Naval tradition to
enlist the Marines—not as an officer, but a ground-pounding grunt. He never
expected to see as much combat or valor as he did in the field, but every
engagement furthered his commitment to his brothers in arms. Now, with an offer
to end his contract early on the table, Rowdy has to take a long look at the
life he left behind, the life he’s built, and the future he longs to have.
Rowdy wants a woman who gets him.
Inactive
Marine, Kim Wakefield, continues to serve her country as a Naval Criminal
Investigator. She’s hard on the grunts and sailors because she is one of
them—and they didn’t sign up for easy. Tired of the seedier side of
military life—picking up drunk Marines, AWOL sailors, busting drug running
operations, or worse, sending drug addicted servicemen to court marshal and
treatment. She longs to have her faith in her fellow Marines restored.
Kim wants a man who knows what she
needs.
Thrown
together by chance on a 1Night Stand, these two jarheads have a combustible
chemistry—but do they have what it takes?
Excerpt:
Not sure how
those results could be a bad thing he tapped the side of the shot glass. “Put
the piece in the safe. They have the kind you can program here. I’ll keep my
eye on the tequila.” He wouldn’t have tried to memorize her combination anyway,
but he didn’t miss the minute relaxation around her eyes when he told her he’d
watch the drinks.
True to his
word, he kept his attention on the alcohol while she stowed the gun. When she
leaned against the bar next to him, he pushed a shot glass over to her. “Let me
preface this by saying I absolutely want to have sex…but I don’t want to be
limited by the one night stand.”
She hesitated
in mid-reach for the glass and stared at it, not him. “Clarify?”
“I like you.
You’re smart—which is both good and bad.”
“How can it be
good and bad?” Her chin came up and she swung a hard gaze on him. Temper flared
just beneath the surface, bright as the lightning outside, it enhanced the
outrage in her eyes.
Gotcha. Just
one little nudge to crack the cool façade and the passionate woman beneath
glared at him. Yeah, that’s more like it. A second knock on the
door interrupted and he let her think about it while he took the tray from room
service and sent them away. He set the tray on the luggage stand and ignored it
for now.
He sprinkled
salt onto the side of his hand. “It’s good, because it’s sexy.” He bit
into a lime and tossed back the tequila. He finished off the ritual with a
quick lick of the salt. “It’s bad because you’re playing a game with me.”
He poured himself another shot, the first warming his gut and loosening more of
the tension. He barely added the salt to his wrist when she slammed back her
own drink, caught his hand and stroked her tongue over his pulse point before
gliding up the side of his hand to take the salt.
All the blood
in his head rushed south and he let out a low whistle. “Damn.”
“Courage isn’t
doing something because you know you can do it.” She moistened her lips and he
couldn’t look away. “It’s doing what you’re not sure you can be successful at.”
Keep up with
Heather and the Always a Marine series:
It was actually Rebecca Royce who encouraged me to write my first 1Night Stand story as well. :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your latest release, Heather! This is a fabulous sub-series of 1Night Stands, and I look forward to reading this story as well!
Yay for more Marines!!! So glad you gave them a chance, I look forward to every single one. I loved the Two and the Proud and am anxiously awaiting the next Marine installment.
ReplyDeleteWow, great story. Hmmm. Might have been Rebecca Royce who encouraged me, too. Well, first I encouraged a few people. Then thought, hmmm, so many people I know are doing these, maybe I should do one! So glad I did!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the release, Heather. Mike's Place is an awesome idea! Great excerpt.
Congrats on the release, Heather. Marines....yum!
ReplyDeleteI rewatch reruns of reruns about everyday of NCIS so this is right up my alley. Thanks for sharing, congrats on your success, and best of luck in sales!
ReplyDelete